Analysis and design of an endlessly single-mode finned dielectric waveguide

We report what is to our knowledge a novel dielectric waveguiding structure consisting of periodic arrays of parallel planar fins placed on both sides of and perpendicular to a central planar core. This structure is analyzed, and the behavior of its bound modes is investigated. This finned guide exh ibits many of the same features as a recently reported all-silica photonic crystal fiber. For example, it can be designed to support only the fundamen tal transverse bound mode over the entire electromagnetic frequency spectru m. This new class of endlessly single-mode waveguide may prove to have impo rtant applications in many areas of optoelectronics. (C) 1998 Optical Socie ty of America [S0740-3232(98)00712-1].